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New-Old Collector Posting for first time

Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2009 7:08 pm
by Hneuman
Hello Cracker Jack Collectors! This is my first post. I am really interested in collecting quality vintage Cracker Jack prizes and display items. I have had an interest all the way back to the 1970s and still have the 1976 (magazine style) book that first introduced me to the field, and I bought Alex's book in 1989 when it came out, and just got Larry's books as well. But I have only recently been bitten by the Cracker Jack collecting bug. I wish I had started earlier. What can I say? I love Cracker Jack, always have, and have been involved with collectibles my whole life. I didn't realize all of what was potentially available to collect until recently (I was busy with unimportnant stuff like a career, marriage, kids, you know...). I am now interested in putting together a really high quality representative collection - I'm not planning to try to get everything - that would be impossible - but would like to try to put together a quality collection. I would consider buying entire collections depending on what is in them or individual quality pieces (does anyone have the diecut flapper girl Cracker Jack sign? That's #1 on my list - would also like the diecut Cracker Jack ad standup. I'm sure there's lots of others - I just don't know all of what there is or if these great items are even available at all, but I thought that maybe by posting here I might hear from someone who just happens to have items to sell. (I know if I do nothing, I know that nothing will happen!).

I've got to say that Cracker Jack collecting is really very uplifting for me. I'm around collectibles all the time and for whatever reason I just respond very positively to Cracker Jack collecting. Maybe it's nostalgia. I have no idea. Everyone I have met (mostly over the telphone) has been a great plaesure. Thanks for reading my post. My name is Robert and I can be reached at info@robertedwardauctions.com

PS If anyone does not have the 2009 REA Cracker Jack advertising magnet that my company produced as a give-away to advertise the auction of the 1915 CJ baseball poster, and wants one, please write to me and I will be happy to send you one as a gift with my compliments.

Re: New-Old Collector Posting for first time

Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 12:26 am
by CJAAAJ
Hi, Robert :hiya:

Welcome to the CJCA and the forum! You will enjoy joining us in the CJCA members section of this forum. There you will be able to see and study many different CJ Prize Series. :D

CJAAAJ :nutty:

Re: New-Old Collector Posting for first time

Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 9:53 am
by larrydw
Hello Robert and welcome,
I wish the CJ collecting bug were as infectious as the flu - then we'd all be rich. The CJCA has a membership list and you may want to contact members directly - a lot of members do not use the site and some do not even have computers (Why buy a $700 computer when you can spend that $700 on prizes?). Not too many people that I know of have whole collections to "part with", I do know that CJMikie has a lot of stuff.
There is a separate post for a wish list or items for sale, but again you are only reaching about 30 members.
I made the mistake of getting my wife interested in CJ collecting and in the early years of collecting she would bid against me at auctions. Not only embarrassing but I would lose out to her.

Re: New-Old Collector Posting for first time

Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 3:45 pm
by CJAAAJ
Hi, Robert :hiya:

There will be a new Prize Insider for all members of CJCA soon and it will be mailed to all members and many more will know about this site! :D

As I said in my original post to your thread welcome to the forum and the CJCA! :humbsip:

CJAAAJ :nutty:

Re: New-Old Collector Posting for first time

Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 5:02 pm
by dianep2
Hi Robert, Wonderful to meet you via this thread. If you hang out here long enough, you will soon learn more than you ever thought possible about CJ collecting. As Alex said, our newsletter should be coming out soon. That will also give you some information. Have you looked on e-bay for items to buy? That is another popular source.

It would really be great if you could attend next June's convention. You will find plenty to buy, sell and trade there. We always have an auction with great stuff up for bid as well. If you can come to that, be sure and bring your life savings, your retirement fund and the contents of your piggy bank.

Anyway, Welcome, Welcome, Welcome!

Re: New-Old Collector Posting for first time

Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2009 7:18 am
by larrydw
Hello Robert,
Are you any relation to Alfred E. Neuman ???? If you have specifics that you are looking for, there is a "Wish List" also the "Items for Sale, Trade or Freebies"; maybe somebody will trade you the sign for some NOSCO plastics or Animaniac pinball toys? Just kidding as the Animaniacs I last saw at auction were 1000 for $0.99 and minimal shipping.

PS - I've already seen you magnet on ebay.

Re: New-Old Collector Posting for first time

Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2009 8:39 pm
by Hneuman
Hi Everyone! Thank you very much for your responses! "Hneuman" is my ebay handle. I do very much like Alfred E Neuman, but it actually stands for "Hellooooooo Newmannnnn..." from Seinfeld. When I first signed up on eBay (some 500+ purchases of small items that my wife thinks I'm nuts for buying but my kids like - they like all junk - we have the same taste), I wanted to have a handle that I could remember, and for some reason I thought this would do the trick. I hope to someday go to the annual convention. It sounds like a lot of fun. I am very impressed with the camaraderie of this collecting field (some of the others, especially the ones where big $ is involved, it's like they are, well...Godless! That is clearly not the case here!)

Is there advertising in the Prize Insider newsletter? If there is, can anyone put an ad in? (I would maybe have interest in placing a buying ad).

Re: New-Old Collector Posting for first time

Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 7:25 am
by larrydw
Hellllloooooo NNNNeeeeuuuummmmaaaannnnnnnnnn,
The Prize Insider had an ad section, then yadda, yadda, yadda, and who knows. The Insider is scheduled to be re-"published" mid-month after a year and half. You can contact Janet, Luke's wife, (she is janetwi) to see if such can be done. I believe Janet is in charge of making the web site edition, but I don't know if there is an editor-in-chief; hopefully all the members will find out when the new edition comes out.

Before marriage, I was Mr. Neat; but after Mary and I married she became interested in antiques (so I had to find an interest in something as I pictured myself going to shop after shop with nothing to look for). Anyway when neatness meets chaos, the result is not neatness. We even collect boxes to use as sorting/collection holding. The result is that we now have a collection of empty boxes - unused but what a collection!

Re: New-Old Collector Posting for first time

Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 10:08 am
by Ginger
:hiya: Greetings Robert!
It's nice to meet you! I am a new member to the CJCA website as well. I can tell you that the collectors on this site are just about the nicest people you will ever meet. They are always friendly and very helpful. :humbsip: I have been collecting for only a year, but I have acquired almost my *ENTIRE* collection from auctions on eBay! You will find some wonderful items for sale (many older items too!)
Good luck and happy hunting!
-Ginger

Re: New-Old Collector Posting for first time

Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 4:57 pm
by dianep2
Hi Robert, Ginger, Larry, Alex and everyone else,

Robert, I have loved reading and seeing the images of your CJ top found in a mine. How exciting. I really think you should win the prize for having the best find. I would sure vote for you. What a fascinating mystery. How did the top end up there? Who first played with the top? Where was the CJ purchased that provided the top to him or her. Questions, questions, questions that will never be answered. :cry:

Robert, as to your inquires into putting ads in the newsletter, I am sure this first addition will not have ads in it. The second in this new series of newsletters will come out in November. Perhaps ads could be a part of that edition. Certainly if there is an interest, that possibility should be investigated.

Ginger, thank you for your kind words about your new CJ friends. Yes, our members are a really fun bunch of people and always enthusiastically help others find the prizes they need for their collections. And we are so lucky to have Cracker Jack experts like Alex, Larry, Cyndy, Gail, Jim, Barbara and others, who have so much knowledge to share with the rest of us and happily do so.

Ginger and Robert, you two have already proven to fit right in with our sweet and nutty group. :banana: